Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) says its disappointed that the number of Australians awaiting Home Care Packages (HCP) is still well over 100,000.
The latest waitlist figures released show that 103,599 older Australians are still waiting to receive the packages.
“It is extremely disappointing that the waitlist has only reduced by less than 1,000 people during the March Quarter,” said LASA Senior Policy Adviser, Troy Speirs.
“We acknowledge that the number of people with access to a package has increased by over 6,000 during the quarter. However, this represents a reduction in the number of accessed packages when compared with the previous December Quarter, where there was an increase of over 10,000 people having access to a package.
“We also welcome the more than 6,100 additional packages being released from July, which take the extra HCP investment to around $3 billion during the past two years.”
However, he said the wait was still “heartbreakingly long” for too many people.
At 31 March 2020, 151,958 people had access to a home care package, a 4.6% increase since the 31 December 2019 total of 145,320.
“We appeal to the Government to work with the sector on a detailed plan to provide older Australians with the home care services they require, in a timely manner,” said Mr Speirs.
LASA noted a recent Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety report that showed people of all ages had a strong preference to remain living in their own home should they ever need support or care.
“There have been an extra 50,000 packages added since July 2018 but we are asking that an additional financial commitment and strategic plan be incorporated into the upcoming Budget’s forward estimates,” Mr Speirs said.
“Otherwise, the wait times will likely escalate and needs will not be met, with the waitlist potentially ballooning again.
“A reasonable wait time is three months, not up to two years.”
